NAVAL LIMITATIONS

Greymouth Evening Star, 17 August 1935, Page 7

NAVAL LIMITATIONS

CONFERENCE PROSPECTS. [ST CABLE —P2EBB ABBS. —COPTBIGHT.] LONDON, August 16. Britain is communicating with the other signatories to the Washington Naval Treaty and the London Naval Treaty, regarding the holding of a Naval Conference. The British proposal, according to "The Times,’ is that a naval conference should be held at London in October; but no invitations are being issued until further exchanges of views have proved that a conference can usefully help. The “Daily Mail” says: "The outlook is promising.” The Tokio correspondent of the “Daily Telegraph” says: Japan is not concerned' as to whether the United States Islands in the Pacific Ocean are fortified, but she is deeply concerned about America’s air base preparations, as she maintains that commercial air facilities could be made available for naval purposes at a moment’s notice.”

NO ENTHUSIASM ?

RUGBY. August 16

It is understood that the British Government communicated, some weeks ago, to other signatories of the Washington and London Naval Treaties, the United States, Japan. France and Italy, the outline of their views and aims, with regard to speeding up preparations for a Five Power naval conference, which required to be held under the Washington Naval Treaty, before the end of the year. » The Government proposed that the bilateral conversations should be pushed forward, and concluded as soon as possible, and that thereafter it might b-a possible to widen the scope of the conversations which might become multilateral. It was suggested that these conversations might be held in London iu October.

No replies to these suggestions have been received, and no invitations to such preliminary conference would be issued until it is clear whether it could usefully meet, as proposed. Under. the Washington Treaty, it falls to the United States Government to issue invitations for a full formal conference provided for in the treaty, but the view is held that London might prove a convenient centre for the meeting.